Unique associative patterns of adolescents’ perceptions of mothers’ and father’s parenting in relation to inhibition and cognitive flexibility

• Published in: Cognitive development Vol. 75; p. 101585
• Main Author: Fatima, Shameem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.07.2025
• Subjects: Cognitive flexibility; Gender; Inhibition; Punitive parenting; Rewarding parenting; Cognitive flexibility; Rewarding parenting; Inhibition; Gender; Punitive parenting
• ISSN: 0885-2014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2025.101585

Earlier research suggests that the development of executive functions is susceptible to positive and negative parenting practices in childhood and adolescence. However, boys and girls may differ in their perceptions of rewarding and punitive parenting by mothers and fathers. The present study extends this focus to assess the interaction between adolescents’ perceptions of mothers’ and fathers’ rewarding and punitive parenting and adolescent gender to predict two core executive functions namely inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Adolescents’ reports of rewarding and punitive parenting were obtained from a sample of Pakistani adolescents (N = 352; Mage = 14.52, SD = 1.08 years, 54.3 % boys, 45.7 % girls) who also performed on executive functions tasks. Findings from correlational and moderated regression analyses showed that adolescents’ perceptions of mother’s and father’s punitive parenting were significantly correlated with inhibition inefficiency for girls but not boys. Likewise, fathers’ rewarding and mothers’ punitive parenting significantly predicted inhibition inaccuracy for only girls. However, the effect sizes in all these moderation analyses were low. Adolescents’ perceptions of rewarding parenting by mothers and fathers were similarly associated with cognitive flexibility for boys and girls. The findings suggest that punitive parenting is likely a negative factor for inhibition among adolescents, particularly girls. In contrast, rewarding parenting is a protective factor for cognitive flexibility for both girls and boys. •Perceived maternal and paternal punitive parenting was positively associated with inhibition inefficiency in girls.•Perceived maternal punitive parenting and paternal rewarding parenting were associated with inhibition inaccuracy in girls.•Perceived rewarding parenting was similarly associted with cognitive flexibility for boys and girls.•Adolescents reported on average higher scores on rewarding parenting than punitive parenting.•Adolescent boys compared to girls reported higher scores on father’s punitive parenting.